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Recently Joe Sculy (sp?) [21010JIS@IBM.CL.MSU.EDU] complained
about what he called Messianic Jewish "Seperatism" which he
seemed to object to.  Now since some form of "seperation" is
called for from believers (2Cor. 6:17) I thought I should
speak out on this issue.
     Now the key to understanding the biblical doctrine of "seperation"
lies in understanding 2Cor. 6:17.  Fortunately there are several points
which make this passage easy to understand:
 
1) The passage is part of a Semitic poem written with parallelism which
begins in 6:2 and runs thru the rest of the chapter.  Thus the parallel
passages of the poem can be understood better by reading their parallel
lines.
 
2) Several of the verses (most noteably 6:17 itself) quote or 
paraphrase
Tenach passages, thus we may find their original Tenach context to
sharpen our understanding.
 
3) The verse in question (2Cor 6:17) has a NT parallel as well (Rev.
18:4)
 
     Now beginning in 2Cor. 6:14 we have a DROSH (allegorical) 
exposition
on a Torah passage (Dt. 22:10) which understands Dt. 22:10 on an
allegorical level in light of other Tenach passages (most noteably Is.
52:11 in 2Cor. 6:17).  In 2Cor 6:15 it is clear that being "seperate" 
in
v. 17 means that believers and non believers should not be "yoked
together", that is work together in unity for a common cause, (the
context is of course religion).
     Now 2Cor. 6:17 quotes Is. 52:11 and makes strong referance to Zech
2:7 (2:11 in Jewish versions) and Jer 50:8; 51:6, 9, 45.  In these
passages it is Babylon which we are being called to be "seperate" from.
This understanding is made even more clear in Rev. 18:4 which also 
quotes
Is. 52:11, in this passage it is clearly "the Great Whore of Babylon"
(Rev. 17) which we are called out of.
     Now that we understand 2Cor. 6:17 we are faced with aplication.
While there are a number of valid aplications, there are two which are
immediately relevant to the question of "seperatism" at hand.
     The first of these is seperation from non believers, and religious
organizations which might religiously yoke us with nonbelievers. This
means seperation from every humanly devised sect or denomination, since
these humanly created organizations have some members who are
nonbelievers.  Believers involved with these organizations will find
themselves yoked to unbelievers, that is working together with
nonbelievers within the same religious organization for a common cause.
     The second relevant aplication is seperation from the Great Whore
Babylon.  Now it is well known that on a DROSH (allegorical) level of
understanding, "Christendom" is this Great Whore.  This has been
thouroghly documented in the book THE TWO BABYLONS by Alexander Hislop.
Thus we are to be seperated from Pagan influenced Gentile Christendom.
     Thus being "seperate" (2Cor. 6:17) includes being seperate from
denominational, sectarian Christendom, as well as Pagan influenced
Christendom.  In short, being "seperate" from Christendom.
 
For more info call or write:
Nazarene Judaism; PO Box 471; Hurst, TX 76053
(817) 284-7039
 
 
 
 
 

--  
James Trimm - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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